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Justices Seem Divided Over Obama’s Executive Actions On Immigration

04.18.16 | 12:01 pm

Supporters of fair immigration reform gather in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Monday, April 18, 2016. The Supreme Court is taking up an important dispute over immigration that could affect millions of peo... Supporters of fair immigration reform gather in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Monday, April 18, 2016. The Supreme Court is taking up an important dispute over immigration that could affect millions of people who are living in the country illegally. The Obama administration is asking the justices in arguments today to allow it to put in place two programs that could shield roughly 4 million people from deportation and make them eligible to work in the United States. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) MORE LESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court appears divided over Obama administration programs that could affect millions of people who are in the country illegally.

The administration’s best hope for a favorable ruling after 90 minutes of arguments at the high courtMonday appeared to rest with Chief Justice John Roberts. Roberts asked questions suggesting he could side with the administration if there is a small change in the proposed programs.

The administration is asking the justices to allow it to put in place two programs that could shield roughly 4 million people from deportation and make them eligible to work in the United States.

Texas is leading 26 states dominated by Republicans in challenging the programs President Barack Obama announced in 2014 and that have been put on hold by lower courts.

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MARK SHERMAN

The administration's best hope for a favorable ruling after 90 minutes of arguments at the high courtMonday appeared to rest with Chief Justice John Roberts. Roberts asked questions suggesting he could side with the administration if there is a small change in the proposed programs.

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What questions ? ? — Geeez …

horrido says:

April 18, 2016

clunkertruck:

What questions ? ? — Geeez …

I know - right? And that’s the low hanging fruit.
ronbyers says:

April 18, 2016

Is it too much to ask TMP to provide the obvious information. Now I am going to have to go to a different site.
clunkertruck says:

April 18, 2016

horrido:

low hanging fruit.

ronbyers:

to a different site.

Well… I did find this —

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-04-18/justices-hear-dispute-over-obama-immigration-actions
pshah says:

April 18, 2016

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr. told the justices that they could get rid of that phrase and essentially leave the programs unchanged. “If the court wants to put a red pencil through it, that’s totally fine,” Verrilli said.

Later in the arguments, Roberts sounded interested in that idea, asking lawyer Erin Murphy if the court could, in fact, just “cross it out.”

Since it was an Executive Action and not an act passed by Congress, why would it be a problem for the Administration to merely cross out the offending phrase, if it means meeting the scrutiny of John Roberts? Seems like it should be easily doable.